With my new Hotpoint oven came a Steam pot so I’ve been trying to experiment with steam cooking, not only is it more nutritious but also so much more healthier. First, since food is cooked by direct contact between steam as well as the movement of the hot vapor through the food, no fat is needed to conduct the heat. This makes steaming a lower-calorie, low fat cooking method. Food stays moist, too, since it is being bathed in water vapor. Also, since water soluble nutrients (namely Vitamins C and B) don’t leach out into vapor, steaming preserves up to 50% more nutrients than other moist heat cooking methods.

Just because steaming is a healthy way to cook doesn’t mean it has to be bland. There are many ways of adding extra flavor to steamed food during the cooking process. You can bring extra flavor to your food by adding all sorts of complementary herbs and spices to your cooking liquid. Further up the flavor by substituting stock, fruit juice or wine for water. The additional flavors will permeate the food as the steam cooks them.

Makes 9

2 Chicken Breasts

1 shallot

1 tsp garlic granules or 1 garlic clove

1 leek

40g whole peanuts

1 tsp salt & pepper

350ml chicken stock

1 tbsp peanut butter

spinach

1 tsp peanut oil

Slice the Leek, using a bit with the green on

Peel and slice the shallots

Shell and peel peanuts (if not predone), blitz in a blender until fine

Cut the chicken into small pieces and season

Add chicken, leek, shallots, garlic and seasoning to the peanuts in blender and blitz together.

With your hands roll into meatballs and place on a greased baking tray, then refrigerate for about 1 hour.

Pour the chicken stock into the steam pot and then place the meatballs onto the grid and place in pot, cover with lid. Set steam time to 10 minutes.

2 minutes before ready place the spinach in the pot also.

When ready remove the chicken stock from the pot and place in a pan on hob. Reduce by half and then emulsify 1 tbsp peanut butter and 1 tsp peanut oil until sauce thickens. (about 1-2 minutes)

I just love Sunday Brunch time, no alarm, lay in, relaxing morning and a fantastic big breakfast that will keep me going until my Sunday dinner. I couldn’t decide between sweet or savoury this morning, so why not both?? This was an absolute treat and so glad I had some fresh tomatoes as this jam just nailed the dish.

So my experimenting with Black Food continues……………another successful outcome! Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together nicely.

Makes approx 12 Mini Buns

250g Strong White Flour

1 tsp salt

2tbsp activated charcoal powder

25g caster sugar

7g sachet yeast

70ml warm milk

2 large eggs

125g unsalted butter at room temperature

1 egg for wash with 1 tsp charcoal powder

Method for Brioche buns:-

Sift the flour into a large bowl and add the charcoal powder. Add the salt and sugar. Mix together.

Mix the eggs with the warm milk and add the yeast, allow to stand for approx 5 minutes until it starts to go frothy.

Add the milk/yeast mixture to the flour and mix on level 2 of your stand mixer for about 2-3 mins. Then turn up to level 4 (medium speed) and mix for about 10 mins or until you get a glossy elastic dough.

Add the softened butter and mix for a further 5 mins. If the dough is too soft and sticky just add some more flour 1 tbsp at a time.

Lightly oil a large bowl and tip the dough into it.

If your oven has a rising programme, turn on and leave to rise for about 2-2.5hrs, if not cover with oiled clingfilm and leave in a warm place.

Punch down the dough and place onto a worktop, divide the dough into small sections about 22-25g sizes.

Take into your palm and using your other hand roll to make a small ball. Place onto a baking tray with parchment paper, leaving enough space in between to allow expansion. Prove again for a further 2 hrs or until doubled in size.

Mix the beaten egg with 1 tsp charcoal powder for the wash, lightly brush the wash over the buns.

Preheat an oven to 180 deg and bake for about 15 minutes.

Chilli Chicken Burgers

2 Chicken Breasts

1 tbsp paprika

1 tbsp chilli flakes

1 tsp salt and pepper to taste

handful of breadcrumbs

1 egg

Place the chicken into a food processor and pulse until broken up – you don’t want it to fine.

Add in all other ingredients and pulse to mix through

Divide into equal portions to fit the burgers and place on a baking tray, place in fridge for at least 30mins -1 hr.

When ready preheat the Crisper plate for 2 mins and place the chicken burgers on, using dynamic crisp setting cook for about 10 mins until browned and cooked. If you don’t have a Crisperplate either cook on hob using fry pan or grill under medium heat.

Once the brioche buns are ready allow to cook then slice in half and start to assemble your burger.

My new oven has a Rotisserie in it and I have to admit I have never cooked my chicken any other way now, rotisserie cooking keeps your meat so succulent and the skin…well what can I say…crispy…crispy…crispy…..so Yummy!

This is my favourite rub:-

2 tbs sea salt

2 tbs smoked paprika

3 tsp onion powder

1½ tsp garlic powder

3 tsp thyme

1½ tsp black pepper

3 tsp white pepper

1½ tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp crushed dry rosemary

Just put everything into a jar and mix. Store in a cupboard.

When ready, simply rub about 2-3 tbsp into chicken and under skin and cook…..Yummy!

If your anything like me……I Love peanut butter, so when I saw this recipe being executed on TV I just had to try it. I have adjusted the ingredients slightly to suit our tastes and I have to admit it’s bloody lovely! This will soon be a staple recipe in my household I think.

You can serve it with some rice for a dinner, or even just on a toasted open baguette (which we done) or even as a filling in a wrap for lunch, its very versatile.

This is my go to Pizza Sauce, ever since I started cooking I always look for healthier options to shop bought products and this is definitely one of them. Not only are your homemade options healthier but so much more tastier.

Makes enough for 2 large pizzas

250g of fresh tomatoes or 1 can 400g of chopped tin tomatoes. (I would urge you to try fresh it makes such a difference to the flavour.

4 garlic cloves – minced

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

salt & fresh cracked pepper

1 tbsp Olive oil

First place the fresh tomatoes into a pan of boiling water to loose the skins (about 10 mins). Remove skins before placing into processor.

Combine all of the ingredients into a food processor and blitz until smooth. Tasting through and adding more pepper or oil as required. If you prefer a really thick sauce, drain some of the tomato juice before putting into the blender.

The sauce can be used straight away or chilled in the fridge up to 1 week.

Oh yummy…yummy…yummy! In a bid to try and eat a bit healthier, I decided to make some peanut butter hummus for my saturday night munchies, I got the original recipe from Nigella but tweeked it slightly.

Makes enough for a medium tub – about 400g

1 can chick peas drained

1 clove garlic – peeled

2 tbsp olive oil

3 tbsp peanut butter

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp sea salt flakes

1 tsp ground cumin

3 tbsp greek yoghurt

1 tsp smoked paprika to serve

Place everything (except paprika) into a food processor and blitz until smooth. If its too thick still add more yoghurt.

Sprinkle paprika before serving. Tuck in with some fresh carrots or some healthy crackers.